Walls and lodges enclosing the gardens in two rectangular enclosures. 1590-97 probably by Robert Smythson. Sandstone ashlar. Chamfered copings surmounted by unusual finials forming a kind of crenellation. Polygonal lodge to the west and triangular bastion-like banqueting house. The entrance has a chamfered round-arch and square tower-like central section. Polygonal finials and elaborate strapwork cresting. (Listed Building Report)

The high stone wall that defines the court to Hardwick New Hall in Derbyshire is punctuated by beaked towers and crowned by curious obelisk and strapwork projections, a fashionable alternative to battlements. The idea at Hardwick may in fact be lifted from the towered gatehouse set in the main facade of Chatsworth, built by Bess and her first husband, Sir William Cavendish, from 1549. (Goodall, p. 459)

Since the Old Hall was in use as ancillary accommodation to the New Hall and is outside the boundary wall the man function of that wall was to define high status social space. However, this can also be said of a great number of crenellated precinct walls of earlier medieval buildings which are very often described as 'fortifications'.

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Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.